Hamilton wins after Verstappen clash

Plus Button takes Super GT title, Alonso back to Indy

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Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix following a clash between former rivals Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon.

The Briton, who clinched his fifth world title in the previous race at Mexico, led the opening stages of the race from pole position, and then appeared to settle for second place after Verstappen charged into the lead on fresher, faster tyres due to a later pit-stop strategy.

But the Dutchman's near-certain victory was ripped away when Ocon attempted to unlap himself into the iconic Senna Esses, the pair clashing and Verstappen spinning.

Verstappen recovered to finish second, but was so livid with his former karting rival that he shoved him in the garage after the race and called him a "pussy" in the post-race press conference.

"We had a great car," said Verstappen, who took victory in Mexico. "Then, by such an idiot, to get taken out while he is being lapped. I have no words."

Ocon hit back, questioning Verstappen's behaviour saying: "What I am really surprised about is the behaviour of Max coming into the scales.

"The FIA having to stop him from being violent, pushing me and wanted me to punch me – and that is not professional."

Ocon was deemed at fault in the on-track incident and recieved a 10-second stop-and-go penalty while both drivers were summoned into a stewards hearing after the pitlane skirmish where Verstappen was ordered to perform two days of "public service" to the FIA within the next six months.

Hamilton's victory, meanwhile, secured the Mercedes-AMG team the 2018 Formula One Constructor's title, as Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium in third position.

Behind them, Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth with Valterri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel in fifth and sixth as both were forced to pit for a third set of tyres late in the race.

Rookie sensation Charles Leclerc won the battle for the 'best of the rest', bringing his Sauber home in seventh ahead of Haas pairing Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen while Ocon's Racing Point Force India team mate Sergio Perez scored the final points-paying position in 10th.

The Formula One season will wrap-up with the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in a fortnight.

Button wins again

Former F1 World Champion, Jenson Button, added another title to his record book, winning the Japanese SuperGT championship in his first season.

The Briton fended off an attack from title rival Ryo Hirakawa in the closing stages of the final race at the Motegi circuit to eventually finish third and seal the title by just three points.

Button is the first rookie to the clinch the premier Japanese touring car title since Tora Takagi in 2005, while his victory with team mate Naoki Yamamoto is the first for Honda in seven years.

“This championship is one of the toughest in the world," Button said.

"That’s coming from someone who has raced in F1 for so many years. I feel a bit like visitor to this team because these guys have been fighting for so long.

“I couldn’t be happier. It’s a long time coming from me. Last championship I won was nine years ago. That was quite a big one, and this for me at the moment feels just as big. This is so important."

Yamamoto also won the open-wheel Japanese Super Formula title this year, while his wife gave birth to twins - a double, double.

"This guy Naoki deserves every accolade that he gets because he is unbelievably quick, aggressive," said Button. "He’s got everything.

"I’m so happy that he’s got the double this year that he thoroughly deserves. A big year for Naoki - twins and a double!"

Alonso returns to Indy

Button's former team mate Fernando Alonso is having another crack in becoming only the second driver in history to seal motor racing's 'Triple Crown'.

The Spaniard confirmed on the weekend that his McLaren team has entered the 2019 Indy 500 following a stand-out performance in 2017 in which he lead the race before retiring with engine trouble.

The two-time world champion desperately wants to repeat Graham Hill's Triple Crown achievement as the only driver to win the Indy 500, Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans 24-hour.

Having triumphed in the French endurance classic this year at his first attempt with Toyota, and having won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2006 and 2007, all that eludes him is victory at the iconic Brickyard.

Tense Rally Australia title fight

Hyundai's Thierry Neuville is adamant he can clinch his first World Rally Championship title in this weekend's final round, Rally Australia.

The Belgian beleives he has the upper hand against five-time champion Sebastian Ogier despite relinquishing the championship lead in the previous round in Spain as his Ford rival will start first on the slippery gravel roads around Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

Ogier sits at the top of the leaderboard three points clear of Neuville, who won the Australian round last year, with Toyota's on-form Ott Tanak an outside title contender, sitting 23 points behind.

"I think it's better to be second and just a few points behind," Neuville said in a report on British site, Autosport.

"It's always difficult to say. If I get a problem he will be champion. But I think it's not the most uncomfortable situation.

"The gap is small. It's going to be intense and interesting."

Ogier, meanwhile, says the points score clearly proves he has the advantage.

"I'm happy to be going there in the lead of the championship," he said.

"It will be tough, I know it will be tough - we all know it will be tough. But it's better to have the points in the bag, I always said this."